WRFL 2019: Altona coach Saade Ghazi happy to take win in wet conditions

Saturday’s horrible conditions meant most game plans were thrown out the window, with experienced mentor Saade Ghazi keen to move on to Altona’s next WRFL fixture.

Steve Kennedy was one of Altona’s best on Saturday. Picture: Local Legends Photography

Altona coach Saade Ghazi won’t spend much time reviewing Saturday’s seven-point win over Hoppers Crossing.

While pleased his team was on the right side of the result, the horrible conditions meant most game plans were futile.

The Vikings will waste no time turning their attention to the coming weeks after ticking off the first assignment of a massive month which also includes clashes with flag rivals Werribee Districts, Spotswood and Deer Park.

“I won’t be looking too much into the stats and the footage to be honest,” Ghazi said.

“We had 22 guys who had a crack, and we came up with the goods on a tough day.

“We haven’t beaten Hoppers away in my time, and they’re a good footy club, so we take the win, bank it and keep moving forward.”

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Altona has conquered Hoppers Crossing both times this season after a painful preliminary final loss to the Warriors in 2018.

With goals at a premium all afternoon, the Vikings prevailed 5.10 (40) to 3.15 (33).

Shae Killey, Kevin Johnson, Steve Kennedy and Tom Mundy were named the winning side’s best.

In a rarity, Patrick Rose, Elliot Cavallaro and Mitchell Turnbull all went goalless.

“They still competed hard and took some marks up the ground,” Ghazi said of the trio.

On the positive side, Altona is set to be strengthened by two key inclusions for the fixture against Werribee Districts.

“We hope to get Jayden Post and maybe Kelly Pickard back next game, two key defenders,” Ghazi said.

“We haven’t had Jayden for three weeks and Kelly for two.

“They’re as good as any defenders in the competition, so getting them back makes it harder selection wise.”

The Vikings sit on top of the ladder with an 8-2 record, ahead of Spotswood and Werribee Districts on percentage.

Deer Park and St Albans are both 7-3, while Hoppers is 6-4 on a congested ladder.

“I think it’s great for the competition,” Ghazi said.

“You can go from being on top to third or fourth pretty quickly.

“It challenges everyone — it challenges us as coaches and players and you’ve just got to come up with the goods on the day.”

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